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Sydney

Australia · Oceania · southern hemisphere

SwimmingLakes & CoastlineCity & CultureFestivals & Events

Sydney is at its best for lakes & coastline in March to April and October to November. Good but not prime in January, February, September and December.

JFMAMJJASOND
Swimming
89
91
89
66
18
12
11
11
11
15
42
68
Lakes & Coastline
62
61
86
94
42
3
10
26
73
92
92
68
City & Culture
36
58
86
91
76
64
11
18
94
90
90
48
Festivals & Events
94
92
60
21
90
86
8
10
8
16
13
74

No reliable monthly crowd data for this destination — the proxy used elsewhere did not pass its checks here, so nothing is shown rather than a guess.

Swipe the table sideways for the rest of the year.

primegoodpossibleoff-seasoncrowds, on this place’s own scale

The short version

Sydney has two peak seasons, not one — the December–January summer, and again from late May into mid-June for Vivid, which is the city’s largest festival by attendance

When not to come

Nothing weather-related — but Mardi Gras parade weekend and the three weeks of Vivid push accommodation rates up sharply.

Busiest

Late December to January, and the Vivid weeks from late May into mid-June

With children

Minimal. Beaches, ferries and the zoo are straightforward; rip currents are the real caution, not the heat.

Where to stay

The CBD and Circular Quay charge for the harbour view. Newtown and Surry Hills are better for eating and a fraction of the price; the northern beaches are cheaper again if you would rather wake up at the sand than the Opera House.

Dates that matter

  • Sydney Festival — most of January
  • Mardi Gras — late February into early March; the parade weekend roughly doubles accommodation rates
  • Vivid Sydney — late May into mid-June; three million-plus visits
  • Sydney to Hobart start (26 Dec) and NYE fireworks (31 Dec)
See everything else at its best in Apr

Elsewhere in Oceania

TasmaniaFiordland & Milford SoundMarlboroughMargaret RiverQueenstownWanaka & CardronaThredbo & the Snowy MountainsBarossa Valley